Legendary (2010)

17% of critics liked it
(42 reviews)
62% of users liked it
(2,647 ratings)

His family shattered by the tragedy that took his father, an unathletic teen from a blue-collar town decides to follow in the family tradition by becoming a high school wrestler in this inspirational family drama from WWE Studios. Mac Chetley was a state collegiate wrester with a promising future… More His family shattered by the tragedy that took his father, an unathletic teen from a blue-collar town decides to follow in the family tradition by becoming a high school wrestler in this inspirational family drama from WWE Studios. Mac Chetley was a state collegiate wrester with a promising future when he was killed in a car accident, and years later, his family still hasn't recovered from their loss. His son, Mike (John Cena), a once-promising high school wrestler, gave up grappling and ran away from home. No one has heard from Mike since, not even his 15-year-old brother, Cal (Devon Graye), or their mother, Sharon (Patricia Clarkson). Despite the fact that he lacks the physique that made his father and brother perfect candidates for wrestling, skinny Cal decides that it's time to strap on the headgear and see what he's got after getting a little encouragement from mysterious local Harry "Red" Newman (Danny Glover). And just when Cal starts to think that he's gotten in over his head, he receives some much-needed help from a most unlikely source. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Mel Damski
Written By: John Posey
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Sep 10, 2010 Limited
On DVD: Dec 28, 2010
Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Films

Critic Reviews

Stephen Holden, New York Times
Follows a straight narrative line to its cliched ending without a deviation from formula.
Stephanie Merry, Washington Post
Exactly what you might expect, right down to the montage of blindfolded tussling, jogging and high-fives to the tune of unrelenting inspirational music.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
It may not live up to that grandiose title, but this rousingly sweet little flick is certainly nothing to go out of your way to avoid.
Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter
Patricia Clarkson's charismatic warmth elevates an awkward inspirational sports drama.
Ronnie Scheib, Variety
Better thesped and helmed than its schmaltzy premise probably warrants.
David Roark, Dallas Morning News
Legendary relies heavily on veteran actors Patricia Clarkson and Danny Glover. However good they are, they're incapable of making it any better than a made-for-TV movie.
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
Cena?s a game actor, but imagining him in the same gene pool as the petite Clarkson or the scrawny Graye is too much of a stretch.
Mike Scott, Times-Picayune
Not nearly cinematic enough or well-written enough to take that doozy of a step that so often separates "inspirational" and "hokey."
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
As schmaltzy after-school special/Hallmark Hall of Fame family fare goes, Legendary isn't so bad.
Gary Thompson, Philadelphia Daily News
There is something comical about the way the movie tries to integrate Cena's massively muscled torso into its chosen atmosphere of casual realism. He looks like something out of Transformers.
Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper
Clarkson cries on cue, perhaps recalling what an awful film she's in.
S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
Predictable but moving sports drama goes beyond wrestling.
John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
Even in our current culture of devalued vocabulary, it takes a lot of chutzpah to make a movie about a high school kid who wins a few wrestling matches and title it 'Legendary.'
Marshall Fine, Hollywood & Fine
This isn't paint by numbers - it's color by numbers, with dull crayons. The only reason to see it is if you happen to want to be a Patricia Clarkson completist.
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald
A by-the-numbers sports drama with a death grip on clichés and acting every bit as flat as the mat...
Frank Lovece, Film Journal International
Stix Dig Hick Pix? A firmly Middle American high-school drama, set in small-town Oklahoma, about classical wrestling, starring a sports-entertainment wrestler and produced by World Wrestling Entertainment.
Justin Strout, Orlando Weekly
The kind of fake movie that you sometimes see in the background of real movies as a joke.
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Every emotional moment is punctuated by plinking piano, and every wrestling match is underscored by hard rock.
Nell Minow, Beliefnet
An unpretentious film with a predictable storyline benefits from some sharp dialog and the always watchable Patricia Clarkson.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
Riddled with as many predictable moves as any pro wrestling match...so trite a collection of cliches that it wouldn't even pass muster as a Hallmark special.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Chris W

This film is quite predictable, formulaic, and far from original, yet it is well-meaning, inspirational, and I actually sorta liked it. It's flawed enough to where I don't feel quite comfortable enough to give it an extra half star, but I did enjoy it, and think that there… More
This film is quite predictable, formulaic, and far from original, yet it is well-meaning, inspirational, and I actually sorta liked it. It's flawed enough to where I don't feel quite comfortable enough to give it an extra half star, but I did enjoy it, and think that there are a few scenes that are okay enough to watch. So, in a rare move, I don't totally recommend the film, but I think it would be okay to watch if you rent it or something, like if you feel you need or just really want to see it. The story here is that of the classic underdog. Cal is a runt whose father and brother were local wrestling gods, but he is not wrestling material. He feels he has something to prove though, so he tries to follow in his family's footsteps, and in the process tries to better his life, come of age, and get his estranged family back together. This is total Hallmark stuff, but I do applaud WWE Films for making somehting not related to the horror or action genres. Graye is actually not bad as Cal. He's a convincing underdog. As Cal's brother Mike, John Cena brings some authenticity to the proceedings, despite his stiff acting and limited emotional range. Danny Glover is underused but it's nice to see him, even though his characters seems more like an angel than a human. Surprisingly though, it is Patricia Clarkson who really holds thigns together. She brings some needed weight and gravitas to things, even if she's put in better work elsewhere. Even though I think the character of Luli was mishandled and awkward, I don't totally blame Madeleine Martin. She's not great, but she's trying, and she seems like a nice and quirky girl, so there. Like I said, this film is nothing new, but I was never bored. The wrestling scenes are well done and you can tell they put effort into bringing some realism and integrity to their portrayal. For this to be a great movie it just also needed a better script and some stronger performances. It will please most viewers though, I'm sure. It's relatively inoffensive, has a lot of heart, and there are a couple of scenes I really liked. As Siskel and Ebert would sometimes do, I'm giving this a rare "thumbs sideways" because I'm just torn about it, and can't think of a better way to judge it.
Cynthia S

Well slap my back, and call me Sally!!! I really liked this little movie. John Cena is surprisingly good. Devon Graye gives a great performance in what should have been a breakout role for him, if only the movie had a wide release. Hopefully, he will get a chance in the future to… More
Well slap my back, and call me Sally!!! I really liked this little movie. John Cena is surprisingly good. Devon Graye gives a great performance in what should have been a breakout role for him, if only the movie had a wide release. Hopefully, he will get a chance in the future to become a star. In the meantime, watch this heart-warming movie about overcoming personal obstacles, and achieving more than victory!
KJ P

It's not the greatest film of all time, but it definitely is a very good one. I found myself feeling every emotion that the cast was feeling, mainly, because it wasn't huge actors, but it was new actors who will one day become stars, and you are sitting watching this film… More
It's not the greatest film of all time, but it definitely is a very good one. I found myself feeling every emotion that the cast was feeling, mainly, because it wasn't huge actors, but it was new actors who will one day become stars, and you are sitting watching this film thinking about things that are all related to this movie. It has a very gripping story, but at times the plot seems stale. It has it's very heartfelt moments just like any drama, but something feels special here. Danny Glovers character seems like nothing in the beginning, but in the end he is triumphant to the story. Great story, but it has been told before in a different way. I really liked it, but there is much room for better developement! However, not disappointing one bit!
♥˩ƳИИ &

Cast: John Cena, Patricia Clarkson, Danny Glover, Devon Graye, Madeline Martin, Tyler Posey, John Posey, Angelena Swords, Teo Olivares, Lara Grice Director: Mel Damski Summary: Fed up with fending off bullies, bookish teen Cal Chetley (Devon Graye) joins his high school's… More
Cast: John Cena, Patricia Clarkson, Danny Glover, Devon Graye, Madeline Martin, Tyler Posey, John Posey, Angelena Swords, Teo Olivares, Lara Grice Director: Mel Damski Summary: Fed up with fending off bullies, bookish teen Cal Chetley (Devon Graye) joins his high school's wrestling team with hopes that his older brother, Mike (WWE star John Cena) - a gifted athlete who wrestled in high school and college - will want to whip him into shape. Trouble is, the brothers haven't had much of a relationship since their father was killed in a car accident and Mike left Cal and their mother behind. My Thoughts: "I am always concerned with a film when there's a singer or in this case, a wrestler. But to my surprise I really liked it. The story is simple, yet interesting. Really liked Madeleine Martin in this. Thought her character was funny, quirky, and bubbly. She brought some good humor to this film. Devon Graye was also well placed in this film. I was surprised with his acting. I thought his and Patricia's scenes were really good. You believed that tight mother and son bond. Patricia Clarkson did a great job in this as well. Her scenes with Cena were pretty emotional. Danny Glover at first seemed liked that strange old man who just showed up and gave speeches of great wisdom and encouragement. But in the end his character is explained. I have seen John Cena in a couple other movies, but they were action packed and very typical. But this film showed him in a different light, and surprisingly he played well in a drama. You won't find any action in this besides a couple bar fights. He was good in this supporting role. Just a good little film that is a bit heartwarming and sad. Definitely worth the rental."
Erin C

This was a really good movie, and I'm not just saying that because I think John Cena is the hottest man alive :P It was a really good story, and the acting was very good as well.
Jim W

"I told their father I'd watch out for them if anything ever happened to him ?" That sounds a lot like a line you'd here in a war movie doesn't it ? Legendary isn't a war movie though, it's about high school wrestling. Yet, when Cal Chetley (Devon… More
"I told their father I'd watch out for them if anything ever happened to him ?" That sounds a lot like a line you'd here in a war movie doesn't it ? Legendary isn't a war movie though, it's about high school wrestling. Yet, when Cal Chetley (Devon Graye) reveals to his mother Sharon (Patricia Clarkson) that he wants to join the wrestling team, she reacts as if he said he wants to join the marines. Cal's brother Mike (John Cena) and his father were so into wrestling that the father died in a car accident on the way to scope out one of Mike's opponents. So Mike is now a drunk bar fighting loner that keeps himself as far away from his family as possible. When Cal needs to get better at wrestling, he goes see Mike behind his mother's back. Mike is hard to convince at first, but of course Cal eventually gets his help. Cal becomes more confident, gets a girlfriend and takes on his bullies, no this isn't the Karate Kid. The film is over the top sentimental, but it won me over anyway due to Graye and yes John Cena having chemistry. While Madeleine Martin was adorable as Cal's girlfriend. Cena, I found surprisingly solid in the first half. I bought that he was a troubled man and he was better than usual and I almost believed that he could act. In the second half when he becomes nicer and a role model, he just phones in his performance and is about as wooden as he usually is. Legendary may not be original but compared to all the other WWE films it's the best. It's a good family film.
Lee K

Ok to all those Cena haters out there, dont judge a book by its cover cause this is one Cena movie that was actually pretty good. Yes those who know mw know i live and breathe pro wrestling and i have never hated Cena, although truth be told i have seen alot better wrestlers out there… More
Ok to all those Cena haters out there, dont judge a book by its cover cause this is one Cena movie that was actually pretty good. Yes those who know mw know i live and breathe pro wrestling and i have never hated Cena, although truth be told i have seen alot better wrestlers out there however that being said i will also have to say their are alot worse. Are u listening to me Flair?? Cena is definatly no Dwayne Johnson although i think he has like 100 lbs of pure muscle on the rock, he couldnt out act the rock, but ill tell you in this he tries damn hard. I have to hand it to wrestlers who journey outside the squared circle to venture into unknown territory that hollywierd has to offer. I mean you never see Actors do it aside from the late great Andy Kaufman and of course the idiot David Arquette. Wrestle i mean that is. Great cast including Danny Glover who plays an old fisherman that young Cal (Devon Graye) bumps into and gets a freindship going while spending time down by the river. And Patricia Clarkson who is simply briiliant as Cal and Mike's (John Cena) Mom. The rest of the cast although basically unknowns including Devon Graye do fantastic jobs. The storyline is this, young Cal who is living in the shadow of his former all star wrestling brother Mike who has estranged him and his mother ever since their father was killed in an automobile accident. Mike went from all american hero on a major downward spiral and alluded the surviving family members. Cal decides to join the school's wrestling team and also seek his brother's help in training him along the way. Although reluctant at first mike decides its time to break the ice and take his younger brother on. This movie is inspiring and in my opinion can proudly say can join amongst the other sport inspiring stories ie; Rocky, Cinderella Man to name a few. A good film.